Hollywood Stars: Who Has Staying Power and Who is a Flash in the Pan?

To have staying power in Hollywood an actor or actress must be versatile. Those stars who confine themselves to certain types of roles risk getting typecast. That sometimes means that they may not even get the opportunity to try something new. Case in point, the late George Reeves. He was so heavily typecast as television's Superman, that most movie producers and casting directors simply laughed at him when he auditioned. Even when he finally did get finally get cast in a big screen hit, his part was slashed out of the film because test audiences recognized "Superman" when he came on screen.

Other stars simply aren't capable of doing more than a limited scope. For example, some are great comedians but cannot play drama. Some are excellent singers and dancers but can't pull off the rest of the film. These limitations can seriously restrict an actor or actress regarding film choices. Such limitations can be dangerous, particularly when moviegoers move in cycles that make certain types of movies more popular than others. Case in point, in the 60's moviegoers started moving away from the once popular movie musicals. Stars like Elvis Presley, therefore, found it more difficult to find film roles that suited their limited talents.

Today, the stars with staying power can do a little bit of everything. They can sing, they can dance, they can take a pie in the face with the best of them, and they can pull off any dramatic scene. The more versatile the performer, the more likely it is that he or she will stick around. Hollywood no longer covets nothing more than a pretty, or handsome, face. Being sexy alone also won't cut it. Even those actors and actresses with bodacious bods better realize that their muscles, or curves, won't last forever. Those must be backed up with acting talent.

So who, in today's list of rising stars, has staying power and who is just a flash in the pan? I decided to explore that question. I developed my list, which is separated by sex, with my top ten stars in both categories. I'll begin with the women and follow up in another article with the men. See what you think and do not hesitate to share your ideas as well.